what do the tone knobs on my strat do?

[Tuto103]

What do those bad boys actually do? And which controls what??

 

[Icepick]

Standard Strat wiring: Volume controls all three pickups. Middle knob controls tone on neck pickup. Lower knob controls tone on middle pickup. Bridge pickup has no tone control.

 

[Tuto103]

Is it just tone/frequencies or do the tone knobs control volume of that pickup aswell?--->like a Les Paul

 

[bluesfordan]

they're just there to confuse the non-guitarists. leave everything on 10, nobody plays anything but the bridge pickup anyway.

Just kidding, put down the torches and pitchforks, please

There are a number of ways the pickups can be wired. From what I understand, the typical way is the first knob is the master volume control, the second knob is the neck pickup tone control, the last knob is the middle pickup tone control. Common variations are last knob is bridge tone control, and middle has none OR both bridge and middle pickups share the last knob as a tone control.

 

[bluesfordan]

Is it just tone/frequencies or do the tone knobs control volume of that pickup aswell?--->like a Les Paul

tone controls on my les paul do not affect the volume, no idea what you are talking about

 

[Icepick]

Is it just tone/frequencies or do the tone knobs control volume of that pickup aswell?--->like a Les Paul

I'm a little confused by this statement too.
Tone controls cut the treble from your pickups which can also result in a slight loss of volume as well. Setting the tone control on any guitar to 0 will be a bit quieter than when set on 10. Maybe that's what you're referring to?

 

[Icepick]

Is it just tone/frequencies or do the tone knobs control volume of that pickup aswell?--->like a Les Paul

I just now thought of something else. If your Les Paul has the "50's" wiring, which when used on a Tele is referred to as the Ted Greene/Fezz Parka mod, your tone control will have a more dramatic effect on the volume level. However this has never been a standard setup for a Stratocaster.

 

[tweeddeluxe]

Turn them and find out.

 

[dog fart]

Turn them and find out.

There you go, talkin' all sensicle and stuff

 

[Beachbum]

Nothing useful. It's the same for all guitars. Unless you play Jazz crank them all the way open and use the volume control for tone.

 

[Dwills94]

ive never found a useful tone knob anywhere other than the top of an amp or pedal so i wouldn't worry about them too much

 

[Tuto103]

Is it just tone/frequencies or do the tone knobs control volume of that pickup aswell?--->like a Les Paul

Wow totally made a mistake...I was thinking about LP second pickup volume(how you can toggle them for a tremolo effect)

 

[Manolete]

I've wired mine for master volume and master tone.... it is silly not having a bridge tone control.

 

[howlin]

Agreed

I've wired mine for master volume and master tone.... it is silly not having a bridge tone control.

And with room for an extra pot you can wire in a blender and get tones beyond any stock Strat [or Tele for that matter].

 

[StratSlinger]

I have a lot of Strats and Strat-like guitars, and on them, the tone knobs don't change the sound at all.

 

[Muttcaster]

I've wired mine for master volume and master tone.... it is silly not having a bridge tone control.

Ditto. I use the 3rd as a blend for the neck/bridge. And I pretty much set it for "3" (some blend) and leave it alone.

 

[73Fender]

they're just there to confuse the non-guitarists. leave everything on 10, nobody plays anything but the bridge pickup anyway.

Just kidding, put down the torches and pitchforks, please

There are a number of ways the pickups can be wired. From what I understand, the typical way is the first knob is the master volume control, the second knob is the neck pickup tone control, the last knob is the middle pickup tone control. Common variations are last knob is bridge tone control, and middle has none OR both bridge and middle pickups share the last knob as a tone control.

Yes, I picked up an Am Standard 2009 or 2010 on CL, took me a year of in frequent use to realize that the lower tone ctrl also controls the bridge p up, was used to the "conventional" arrangement, never considered trying the tone ctrl w the bridge. A great idea I think. Also, the indented pot of the lower tone ctrl had me thrown for a loop for a while, thought it was defective and was sticky. Delta tone ctrl..who would have known. Live and learn I guess.

 

[jefrs]

I've wired mine for master volume and master tone.... it is silly not having a bridge tone control.

Rory's bottom knob didn't work, so all three were wired through the first tone knob ...

 

[nojazzhere]

Probably sounds strange, but I've always found the Strat volume knob was in an inconvenient location, so I remove it completely, middle knob location becomes master volume, and bottom knob becomes master tone. (all three pickups) Played this way for many years until I got smart....bought a Telecaster and (among many other mods) added a middle pickup. Still sounds like a Tele with ability to add that "hollow", Mark Knopfler sound. Best of ALL worlds......

 

[mad dog]

That's a good question. A strat is the only guitar with which I never adjust tone knobs. In part because I initially tried to roll off tone with the bridge only position, and of course it doesn't work.

MD